Scheduled Monument: Motte and Associated Earthworks East of Old Rectory (1011118)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Motte and associated earthworks east of Old Rectory PARISH: ECCLESTON DISTRICT: CHESTER COUNTY: CHESHIRE NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 22591 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SJ41426277 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument is a motte and associated earthworks strategically situated on a local high point overlooking the River Dee. The monument includes an oval earthen motte, or mound, mutilated on its eastern side, and partly surrounded by a ditch and bank with other earthen banks to the south and south-west. The motte measures 28m by 14.5m by 3m high and is flanked on its north and west sides by a ditch 8m wide and 0.3m deep, beyond which are faint traces of an outer bank 14.5m wide by 0.1m deep which continues in a south-westerly direction for a distance of approximately 17m. To the south of the motte, and running along the crest above the slope down to the river, is a bank measuring 23.5m long by 10m wide and 1.3m high. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE Motte castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble, the motte, surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower. In a majority of examples an embanked enclosure containing additional buildings, the bailey, adjoined the motte. Motte castles and motte-and-bai1ey castles acted as garrison forts during offensive military operations, as strongholds, and, in many cases, as aristocratic residences and as centres of local or royal administration. Built in towns, villages and open countryside, motte castles generally occupied strategic positions dominating their immediate locality and, as a result, are the most visually impressive monuments of the early post-Conquest period surviving in the modern landscape. Over 600 motte castles and motte-and-bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples known from most regions. Some 100-150 examples do not have baileys and are classified as motte castles. As one of a restricted range of recognised early post-Conquest monuments, they are particularly important for the study of Norman Britain and the development of the feudal system. Although many were occupied for only a short period of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other types of castle. The motte and associated earthworks east of the Old Rectory at Eccleston is one of a group of early post-Conquest mottes and motte and bailey castles forming a defensive system, the aim of which was to curb Welsh raids on the rich farming areas of Cheshire. Equally important was the role these sites played in imposing and demonstrating the new post-Conquest feudal order on the area. SCHEDULING HISTORY Records show that this monument was included in the Schedule on 19th December 1958 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Cheshire 69 NAME: Round barrow E of Rectory Monument's inclusion in the Schedule was confirmed on 9th October 1981. Monument included as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Cheshire 69 NAME: Round barrow E of Rectory The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 22591 NAME: Motte and associated earthworks east of Old Rectory SCHEDULING REVISED ON 28th September 1993